WO2019026626A1

WO2019026626A1 - Fuel cell device

Info

Publication number: WO2019026626A1
Application number: PCT/JP2018/026982
Authority: WO
Inventors: 智剛青野
Original assignee: 京セラ株式会社
Priority date: 2017-07-31
Filing date: 2018-07-18
Publication date: 2019-02-07
Also published as: JPWO2019026626A1; JP6472588B1

Abstract

This invention is provided with: a fuel cell module for generating power; a casing for housing the fuel cell module; and a partition member for dividing the interior of the casing into a first compartment and a second compartment. The casing is provided with an intake port, which is provided on the bottom surface of the casing and which communicates between the first compartment and the exterior of the casing, and an exhaust port, which communicates between the second compartment and the exterior of the casing. An opening communicating between the first compartment and the second compartment is provided to the partition member. The invention is provided with a first blower device for moving air in the first compartment into the second compartment through the opening, and an air feed path having one end connecting to a fuel cell module and the other end extending to the vicinity of the intake port. It is thereby possible to improve the reliability of the fuel cell device.

Description

Fuel cell device

The present disclosure relates to a fuel cell device.

In recent years, as a next-generation energy, a fuel cell module in which a fuel cell capable of obtaining electric power using fuel gas (hydrogen-containing gas) and air (oxygen-containing gas) is accommodated in a storage container, and fuel cell Various fuel cell devices have been proposed in which an auxiliary machine for operating the module is housed in an outer case which is a housing.

For example, in a SOFC (Solid Oxide Fuel Cell) fuel cell apparatus, in a cell stack configured by stacking a large number of fuel cells disposed in a fuel cell module, fuel reformed by a reformer and air are combined. It generates electricity by making it react. In addition, since the heat generated by the fuel cell module generates the inside of the outer case at a high temperature, a structure for ventilating the air in the outer case is required. Therefore, a fuel cell device has been proposed in which a fan is provided in the outer case to ventilate the air in the outer case (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In addition, a fuel cell device has been proposed in which an outer case is divided into upper and lower two chambers by a partition wall and a fan is provided in a hole opened in the partition wall (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

In addition, a large SOFC type fuel cell apparatus is provided with a so-called negative pressure ventilation system in which an exhaust fan is provided in the vicinity of the exhaust port and the pressure in the outer case is negative to discharge the air in the outer case. There is also.

JP, 2016-31839, A JP, 2009-140782, A

The fuel cell device of the present disclosure
A fuel cell module that generates electricity;
A housing for housing the fuel cell module;
A partition member configured to divide the inside of the housing into a first chamber and a second chamber;
In the housing, an air inlet provided on a bottom surface of the housing to communicate the first chamber with the outside of the housing, and an exhaust port connecting the second chamber with the outside of the housing are provided. Provided,
The partition member is provided with an opening for communicating the first chamber and the second chamber,
A first air blower for moving air in the first chamber to the second chamber through the opening;
And an air supply passage having one end connected to the fuel cell module and the other end extending to the vicinity of the air inlet.

The objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description and the drawings.
It is a block diagram showing composition of a fuel cell device of an embodiment. It is a perspective view showing composition of a case of a fuel cell device of an embodiment. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the structure of the fuel cell apparatus of embodiment. It is a bottom view showing composition of a fuel cell device of an embodiment. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the fuel cell module of embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the fuel cell device of the embodiment. In the following drawings, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The fuel cell device 1 includes a fuel cell module 2 configured to store the reformer 10 and the cell stack device 20 in a storage container (not shown). In addition, a housing which is an outer case together with a plurality of accessories such as a heat exchanger 31, a condensed water tank 32, a power conditioner 33, a fuel supply device 34, and an air supply device 35 for operating the fuel cell module 2. It is housed and configured (not shown). Not all the above-mentioned devices need to be accommodated in the housing, and for example, the heat exchanger 31 may be provided outside the housing. Moreover, you may arrange | position the thermal storage tank 36 grade | etc., Which stores heat-medium, such as water which heat-exchanged by the heat exchanger 31, in the inside of a housing | casing.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the casing of the fuel cell device of the embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the fuel cell device of the embodiment.

The rectangular parallelepiped casing 40 is composed of an exterior plate 41 and a column 42 made of metal or the like. An exterior plate 41 is fixed to the column 42, and the exterior plate 41 constitutes each surface of the housing 40. The exterior plate 41 includes a bottom plate 41 a constituting the bottom surface of the housing 40, a top plate 41 b constituting the top surface of the housing 40, and a side plate 41 c constituting the side surface of the housing 40.

The casing 40 is divided by the partition member 43 into a first chamber 44 which is a space below the partition member 43 and a second chamber 45 which is a space above the partition member 43. The partition member 43 is supported by the column 42, and its strength is secured so that the fuel cell module 2 and the like can be mounted on the partition member 43.

An intake port 46 is provided in the bottom plate 41 a. The outside of the housing 40 and the first chamber 44 are in communication with each other by the intake port 46. Moreover, the exhaust port 47 is provided in the top plate 41b. The exhaust port 47 communicates the outside of the housing 40 with the second chamber 45. Further, the partition member 43 is provided with an opening 48 which allows the first chamber 44 and the second chamber 45 to communicate with each other.

The partition member 43 is provided with a first air blower 50 for moving the air of the first chamber 44 to the second chamber 45 through the opening 48. As the first blower 50, a blower fan or the like can be used.

When the first air blower 50 is operated, the air moves from the first chamber 44 to the second chamber 45 through the opening 48, and the air flows from the air inlet 46 into the first chamber 44, and the air outlet 47 is Air is discharged from the second chamber 45 to the outside through the air. Thus, the air in the case 40 flows from the bottom to the top by providing the intake port 46 in the bottom plate 41 b and the exhaust port 47 in the top plate 41 b. Therefore, ventilation in the housing 40 can be performed well.

By operating the first air blower 50, the first chamber 44 has a negative pressure, and the second chamber 45 has a positive pressure. Although the flow of air in the first chamber 44 is accelerated near the opening 48, the overall flow of air from the lower side to the upper side is generated inside the first chamber 44, and the flow velocity of the air is relatively small.

The first chamber 44 has openings other than the intake port 46 such as the drainage port 49 for draining rainwater and the like, and since the first chamber 44 has a negative pressure, Air flows into the single chamber 44.

The air flow in the second chamber 45 is caused by the first blower 50, and the air flows in from the opening 48, so that a linear high flow of air is generated upward from the opening 48.

The fuel cell module 2 shown in FIG. 3 is placed on the partition member 43 and disposed in the second chamber 45. The fuel cell module 2 has a high temperature inside, so the storage container 24 also has a relatively high temperature. That is, the second chamber 45 tends to have a higher temperature than the first chamber 44.

Therefore, the fuel supply device 34, the air supply device 35, the condensed water tank 32, and the pumps, which are auxiliary devices that should be operated at relatively low temperature, are disposed in the first chamber 44, and the second chamber 45 An auxiliary machine that operates even at a relatively high temperature is disposed in As a result, it is possible to reduce a failure such as a failure of the accessory, and to improve the reliability of the fuel cell device 1.

One end of an air supply passage 103 for supplying air to the fuel cell module 2 disposed in the second chamber 45 is connected to the fuel cell module 2. The air supply passage 103 penetrates the partition member 43 and the other end extends to the vicinity of the intake port 46. The other end of the air supply path 103 is formed with a rectangular box-shaped portion 103 a. The bottom of the box-like portion 103 a of the air supply passage 103 is open, and this opening is the end portion 103 b of the air supply passage 103. The air supply path 103 is formed of a tubular member such as metal or resin.

With such a configuration, air flows from the air supply path 103 into the fuel cell module 2 and the pressure in the vicinity of the intake port 46 decreases, and more air flows from the intake port 46, so that the air flow is stabilized. The accessories in the body 40 can be reliably cooled.

That is, in the conventional negative pressure type ventilation system which exhausts the air in the case by the exhaust fan, the air flows in the case because the air also flows into the case from the opening of the outer case other than the intake port. It became complicated and there was a possibility that some accessories installed in the case could not be cooled sufficiently.

According to the fuel cell device 1 of the present embodiment, the flow of air is stabilized, and the accessories in the housing 40 can be reliably cooled. Therefore, the reliability of the fuel cell device 1 can be improved.

The air supply device 35 is provided in the air supply path 103. In the present embodiment, an air supply device 35 is provided in the box-like portion 103a. The air supply device 35 has a second blower 35a. A blower fan or the like can be used as the second blower 35a. By operating the second blower 35 a, air is fed from the air supply path 103 to the fuel cell module 2.

Such an air supply device 35 may be located at any position of the air supply path 103 extending from the fuel cell module 2 to the vicinity of the intake port 46. As in the present embodiment, by disposing the air supply device 35 in the vicinity of the intake port, the air flowing in from the intake port 46 can be directly taken in by the air supply device 35, so the air can be efficiently fueled. The battery module 2 can be supplied. Further, since the air supply device 35 is installed at a position close to the end of the air supply path 103, maintenance work can be performed efficiently.

In addition, by attaching the second air blower 35 a in the vicinity of the intake port 46, a local negative pressure environment is formed in the vicinity of the end 103 b of the air supply passage 103, and more external air passes through the intake port 46. Can be captured.

An air filter 51 is provided at the intake port 46, and by taking in the outside air through the air filter 51, it is possible to reduce the infiltration of dust and dirt contained in the outside air into the housing 40. Further, the air supply passage 103 is provided to extend to the vicinity of the intake port 46, whereby a large amount of air having passed through the air filter 51 can be introduced into the fuel cell module 2. Therefore, the entry of dust and dirt into the fuel cell module 2 can be reduced.

Further, by combining the configuration in which the air supply device 35 is attached in the vicinity of the intake port 46 and the configuration in which the air filter 51 is provided in the intake port 46, the air is taken through the air filter 51 among the air taken into the housing 40. The proportion of air taken into the body 40 can be increased to reduce the infiltration of dust and dirt into the housing 40.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view showing the configuration of the fuel cell device of the embodiment. The intake port 46 can be formed, for example, by providing a plurality of openings in the metal bottom plate 41 a that constitutes the bottom surface of the housing 40 of the fuel cell device 1. In the present embodiment, the intake port 46 is formed by opening an oblong hole in the bottom plate 41 a in the longitudinal and lateral directions.

Furthermore, an air filter 51 is disposed at the intake port 46. The air filter may be provided also in the air supply passage 103, and may be provided with two air filters such as an air filter 51 near the intake port 46 and an air filter in the air supply passage 103.

The end portion 103b of the air supply path 103 is provided on the air filter 51, and a partial region where the intake port 46 is provided overlaps with the end portion 103b in plan view from the bottom surface side . That is, the intake port 46 is a first intake port 46 a which is a portion overlapping the one end 103 b of the air supply path 103 in plan view from the bottom surface side, and the first intake port of the intake ports 46. It has a second intake port 46b which is the other part.

Further, aside from the air inlet 46, a plurality of openings are provided in the bottom plate 41a, and a water outlet 49 is formed. The drainage port 49 drains from the inside of the housing 40 the water such as rain water and condensation that has entered the inside of the housing 40 of the fuel cell device 1.

When the fuel cell device 1 operates, the first air blower 50 operates to cool and ventilate the inside of the housing 40, but since the first chamber 44 has a negative pressure, air is only from the intake port 46. Instead, it also flows from other openings provided in the outer wall of the first chamber 44 such as the drainage port 49. The air that has passed through the air inlet 46 passes through the air filter 51, so dust and dirt contained in the air can be removed, but air from other openings such as the water outlet 49 does not pass through the air filter 51, Dust and dirt can easily enter the housing 40.

Therefore, by disposing one end 103 b of the air supply path 103 above the intake port 46, the air is supplied by the air supply device 35 into the fuel cell module 2. A strong negative pressure is generated to generate a flow of air flowing to the air supply passage 103 through the first air inlet 46a.

Then, more air flows into the housing 40 from the second intake port 46 b around the first intake port 46 a. Thus, the inflow of the air from other openings, such as the drainage port 49, can be reduced by locating the second intake port 46b in at least a part of the first intake port 46a. As a result, more air can pass through the air filter 51 and dust and dirt flowing into the housing 40 can be reduced.

In addition, by providing the second intake port 46b around the first intake port 46a, the airflow toward the air supply path 103 is surrounded by the airflow passing through the second intake port 46b. Flow can be generated. As a result, the possibility that air that has passed through another opening such as the drainage port 49 is drawn from the air supply path 103 and supplied to the fuel cell module 2 can be reduced. For example, by locating the second inlet 46b between the outlet 49 and the first inlet 46a, it is possible to reduce the possibility that air flowing in from the outlet may enter the air supply path 103. it can.

Further, by bringing the end 103b of the air supply passage 103 close to the first air inlet 46a, the air from the first air intake 46a moves through the inside of the air supply passage 103, The air from the air inlet 46 b of the air conditioner may be configured to move through the outside of the air supply passage 103. This can further reduce the possibility that air that has passed through another opening such as the drainage port 49 is drawn from the air supply path 103 and supplied to the fuel cell module 2.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a fuel cell module constituting the fuel cell device of the embodiment. The operation of the fuel cell device will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 5.

The reformer 10 is connected to a raw fuel supply pipe 100 for supplying a raw fuel such as hydrocarbon gas and a water supply pipe 101 for supplying reforming water. As shown in FIG. 5, the raw fuel supply pipe 100 and the water supply pipe 101 may be integrally connected to the reformer through a pipe line.

The raw fuel supply pipe 100 is provided with a fuel supply device 34 for supplying the raw fuel to the reformer 10. In the heated reformer 10, the raw fuel is reformed by the vapor resulting from evaporation of the reforming water to generate a reformed gas containing hydrogen. The reformed gas generated by the reformer 10 is supplied to the cell stack device 20 through the reformed gas supply pipe 102.

The cell stack device 20 includes a cell stack 23 in which a large number of manifolds 21 and fuel cells 22 are connected. The reformed gas supplied from the reformer 10 to the cell stack device 20 is supplied from the manifold 21 into the fuel cell 22.

In the cell stack device 20, air which is an oxygen-containing gas is introduced from the air supply passage 103 to the outside of the fuel cell 22. An air supply device 35 is connected to the air supply path 103, and the air supply device 35 feeds air to the cell stack device 20. When the reformed gas passes through the fuel cell 22, it reacts with the air to generate power.

The reformed gas not used for power generation merges with the air not used for power generation at the top of the cell stack 23 and burns to generate high temperature exhaust gas. Further, the reformer 10 is heated by the heat generated by the combustion.

The electricity generated by the fuel cell module 2 is sent to the power conditioner 33 and used for power consumption and storage of electricity in the storage battery.

Since the reformer 10 and the cell stack device 20 have a high temperature, they are surrounded by a heat insulating material or the like and stored in the storage container 24 and disposed as a fuel cell module 2 in a housing together with accessories.

The exhaust gas generated in the fuel cell module 2 is discharged from the cell stack device 20 and then supplied to the heat exchanger 31 through the exhaust gas flow path 104. A circulation line 105 is connected to the heat exchanger 31, and heat exchange is performed between the medium introduced into the circulation line 105 and the exhaust gas.

Water or the like can be used as the medium. By means of heat exchange, the exhaust gas is cooled and the medium is heated by the heat of the exhaust gas. The exhaust gas is cooled and the water vapor contained in the exhaust gas is separated into water and gas. Gas is exhausted from the gas exhaust port to the outside through the exhaust passage 107. Water separated by cooling the exhaust gas is sent to the condensed water tank 32 through the condensed water recovery channel 106.

In the condensed water tank 32, the water is purified through ion exchange and the like, and the purified water is introduced into the water supply pipe 101 and supplied to the reformer 10 as reforming water. Unwanted water is drained from the drain 108.

The medium warmed by the heat exchanger 31 moves to the heat storage tank 36. The medium can store heat while circulating through the circulation line 105. The stored heat can be used for hot water supply and the like.

When the medium stored in the heat storage tank 36 is water, the water in the heat storage tank 36 may be used for hot water supply. If the temperature of the medium in the heat storage tank 36 becomes too high, a radiator may be provided to reduce the temperature of the medium supplied to the heat exchanger 31.

As mentioned above, although this indication was explained in detail, this indication is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, In the range which does not deviate from the gist of this indication, various change, improvement, etc. are possible.

Furthermore, the present disclosure can be implemented in other various forms without departing from the spirit or main features thereof. Accordingly, the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative in every respect, and the scope of the present disclosure is as set forth in the claims, and is not limited in any way by the description. Furthermore, all variations and modifications that fall within the scope of the claims fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 fuel cell apparatus 2 fuel cell module 40 housing | casing 43 partition member 44 1st chamber 45 2nd chamber 46 air intake port 47 exhaust port 48 opening 50 1st air blower 103 air supply path

Claims

A fuel cell module that generates electricity;
A housing for housing the fuel cell module;
A partition member configured to divide the inside of the housing into a first chamber and a second chamber;
In the housing, an air inlet provided on a bottom surface of the housing to communicate the first chamber with the outside of the housing, and an exhaust port connecting the second chamber with the outside of the housing are provided. Provided,
The partition member is provided with an opening for communicating the first chamber and the second chamber,
A first air blower for moving air in the first chamber to the second chamber through the opening;
An air supply path whose one end is connected to the fuel cell module and whose other end extends to the vicinity of the intake port.
The fuel cell device according to claim 1, wherein the bottom surface of the housing has a drain.
The air intake is
A first air inlet at which the other end of the air supply passage is located at the upper side;
A second air intake located at least partially around the first air intake;
The fuel cell device according to claim 2, comprising:
The air from the first air inlet travels through the interior of the air supply passage,
The fuel cell device according to claim 3, wherein air from the second air inlet moves through the outside of the air supply path.
The fuel cell device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a second air blower near the other end of the air supply passage.
The fuel cell device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the exhaust port is provided on a top surface of the housing.
The fuel cell device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the air inlet is provided with an air filter.